New mafia targeting homeowners for three valuable items in South Africa
Mafia-style organised criminal syndicates are targeting households with solar panels, batteries, and gas bottles.
The warning comes as the latest crime statistics from the South African Police Service (SAPS) show that home-related crimes remain a major concern.
According to SAPS data, the country recorded 32,387 home burglary cases between January and March 2026.
This works out to roughly 360 incidents a day. Meanwhile, the SAPS recorded 4,507 house robberies over the same period—or 50 every day.
Most of these incidents are opportunistic crimes. However, there is a growing trend of organised syndicates now targeting homes for specific items.
Speaking on Moneyweb Radio, Rodney Taylor, the Managing Director of private security group Guardian Eye, said the theft of solar panels, batteries and gas bottles has evolved far beyond opportunistic crime.
“The trend these days, it’s not just opportunistic criminals, it’s organised criminal syndicates,” said Taylor.
“They’re very organised, they’ve got the right equipment, and they’ve got the means and ways to dismantle the systems very quickly and efficiently and are able to get the equipment into the black market.”
Taylor said criminals are specifically targeting high-demand energy-related assets, which have become more common as households invest heavily in backup power and alternatives to the national electricity grid.
Unlike the theft of gate batteries, which has been common for years, criminals are now entering private properties to access solar panels mounted on roofs, battery storage systems, and gas cylinders.
Taylor said many homeowners make a critical mistake by treating these installations separately from their existing security systems.
He stressed that solar and gas installations should be viewed as high-value assets that require dedicated protection.
“These are high-value assets, they’re high in demand, and the consumer needs to ensure that they use technology,” Taylor said.
He noted that some homeowners are now installing hidden sensors on solar panels and gas bottles that immediately alert security companies when tampering occurs.
Tips to improve security at your home
Taylor added that artificial intelligence is increasingly being used to protect valuable energy infrastructure.
“AI is being used now with regard to monitoring these high-value assets,” he said, noting that some operators have even deployed AI-powered drones to monitor large solar plants in remote areas.
While homeowners can improve their own security, Taylor believes the government also has an important role to play.
“Government needs to crack down on the informal black market and especially regulate the second-hand solar cells and enforce stricter tracking of panels and serial numbers,” he said.
He also called for minimum security standards for installations and encouraged consumers to use reputable installers.
Taylor warned that homeowners also make security mistakes that make theft easier. These include leaving ladders, crowbars and garden tools accessible to criminals.
“Often we see consumers leave ladders, crowbars, garden tools that are able for criminals to access quite easily,” he said.
He also cautioned against installing gas bottles and battery systems in enclosed, poorly lit areas.
“You install the gas bottles or these battery systems in enclosed dark areas, and they actually form a blind spot,” Taylor said.
To improve security, he recommended using specialised anti-theft bolts for solar panels, protective enclosures for gas cylinders, and AI-enabled camera systems that send alerts when suspicious activity is detected.
Taylor also warned that stolen solar equipment often finds its way back into legitimate supply chains because of poor regulation and tracking.
“Unfortunately, because it’s not regulated and it’s not serialised, the government needs to play a bigger part in this,” he said. As a result, consumers could unknowingly purchase stolen solar panels or batteries.
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